Banding together of articles



Dec. 3, 1968 A. s. JACOBSON 3,414,118

BANDING TOGETHER OF ARTICLES Filed Nov. 29, 1966 United States Patent 3,414,118 BANDING TOGETHER OF ARTICLES Aaron S. Jacobson, 534 Stratford Place, Chicago, 111. 60657 Filed Nov. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 597,695 8 Claims. (Cl. 206-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A strap for snugly holding a plurality of articles together comprising a flat, one-piece band of a heat-expandable plastic material, and fastening means therefor, said fastening means including interlocking male and female members positioned in spaced apart relation on said band, the spacing between said members being such that said members are difiiculty engageable when said band, in a non-heat expanded condition encompasses a plurality of articles to be held thereby, and which is such that said members are readily engageable when said band, in a like situation, is in a temporary heat-expanded condition.

The present invention relates to the banding together of articles to prevent them from becoming separated prior to use by a purchaser, and which, in this connection, has special utility for banding together stacked articles such as open-ended wrenches.

It is common practice to package articles such, for example, as open-ended wrenches by stacking one wrench on top of another and securing them together. Generally a package of this type comprises approximately six wrenches of different lengths, the ends of each of the wrenches having different sized openings for engaging nuts or bolt heads of corresponding size. The wrench of largest size is usually the lowermost one of the stack while the wrench of smallest size is the uppermost one of the stack. Heretofore, the stacked wrenches commonly have been held in position by means of a generally C-shaped ltriangularly configurated metal clamp having a base portion, on which the shank of the largest wrench rests, and an upper portion, which overlies the shank of the smallest wrench. The overlying upper portion of the metal clamp carries a set screw which engages the upper surface of the shank of the smallest wrench and exerts a downward force thereon of suflicient magnitude to hold the stacked wrenches in place against the base portion of the clamp.

An important disadvantage of metal clamps used in packaging such articles, as described above, is their relatively high cost of manufacture and the cumbersomeness of their application to, and removal from, the stacked articles. Furthermore, the size and shape of the clamp places distinct limitations on the amount of advertising or product identification space available on the package. This space limitation is due, in the main, to the generally triangularly shaped body portion of the clamp which extends from the base to the upper portion thereof along one side of the stack. The body portion, itself, does not provide adequate surface area to permit attachment of a label, or the like, of any appreciable size to it, and yet has a size and shape such that there is not enough space on either side of it to enable a label, or the like, of reasonable width, to be attached to the stack.

In accordance with the present invention, banding together and securely holding stacked articles of the type referred to above is achieved in a novel manner which overcomes the disadvantages encountered with metal clamps heretofore used for this purpose. Pursuant to the present invention, the banding is achieved through the utilization of a banding strap which is fabricated from inexpensive materials and can be simply and easily applied to and removed from articles to which it is attached and which is applied to the stacked articles in a manner described below. The strap itself, while providing optimum safeguards against separation of the articles due to rough handling during shipment, or conscious intent to dislodge them at the point of purchase, enables optimum use of advertising or product identification material directly on the articles.

Briefly, the banding strap utilized pursuant to the present invention comprises a relatively narrow, elongated strip of a heat-expandable plastic material having mating members of suitable fastening means secured in spaced relation thereon. The length of the strap will be dependent upon the perimeter of the article, or articles, to be packaged which it will be necessary for the strap to traverse, in its heat-expanded condition, and snugly encompass, in its non-heat expanded condition to enable the strap to perform its banding function. In order to meet these criteria, the length of the strap, between the spaced mating members of the fastening means thereof, advantageously is such that when it encompasses, in a non-heat expanded or normal condition, an article, or articles, to be banded together by it, the matingmembers of the fastening means can only be engaged by the application of a substantial force exerted longitudinally of the strap at its ends, but which, in like circumstances, in its temporarily heat-expanded condtition, the mating members of the fastening means can be readily engaged. The character of the plastic of which the strap is fabricated and the thickness thereof desirably should be such that the strap will be able to resist forces placed thereon which tend to tear or break the strap when it is either in its expanded or non-expanded condition.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be come more particularly apparent upon making reference to the specification to follow, the claims and the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the strap utilized pursuant to the present invention as applied to a stack of different sized open-ended wrenches;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of said embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the shanks of the stack of wrenches, taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 2, and illustrating said embodiment of the invention being applied, in its heat-expanded condition, to the stack of wrenches;

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 3 showing said embodiment banded around the shanks of the stack of wrenches;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of the strap of said embodiment of the invention in its normalv or non-expanded condition; and

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to that of FIG. 4 showing sai-d embodiment of the strap in a heat-expanded condition.

Referring, now, in greater detail to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 5 and 6 thereof, the embodiment of the invention illustrated and designated by reference numeral 10 comprises a relatively narrow, elongated strip 12 having a female portion 14 and a male portion 16 of a snap fastener secured in spaced relation thereon. It should be understood, of course, that while a snap fastener is utilized in the embodiment of the invention shown to secure and maintain the strap 10 in position on a stack of articles such as the different sized wrenches, designated generally by reference numeral 20, other suitable fastening means can be employed. Exemplary of such alternative fastening means are a hook and eye arrangement, a pin and hole arrangement, a latch and bar arrangement, and the like.

The strap 10 is fabricated of a flexible plastic which manifests slight or moderate thermal expansivity characteristics, without experiencing any appreciable permanent distortion, at relatively low temperatures. Various plastic materials, including both thermoplastic and thermosetting plastics, having the properties desired can be utilized. Among these are thermoplastic plastics such as vinyl resins exemplified by polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride acetate, polyvinyl acetal and vinylidene chloride; polystyrene; methyl methacrylate; and the like; and thermosetting plastics such as certain suitably modified phenolics and ureas. The thermal or heat expansion properties of the plastic used in making the strap 10 should be such that the plastic will manifest little, or substantially no, expansibility at ambient or room temperatures, but will expand and become slightly or moderately stretchable at temperatures ranging from about 75 to 200 0., usually 100 to 150 C. In FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawing, there is illustrated the difference in length of the strap under normal, room temperature conditions, and in its expanded condition after it has been heated to a temperature within the range indicated. Thus, utilizing a strap made of a vinyl resin, polyvinyl chloride for example, and having a length of about 6 inches and a thickness of between about to /8 inch, at room or ambient temperature, heating the strap in an environment at a temperature of from about 120 C. will cause the strap to expand from about to inch, more or less. It should be understood, of course, that the amount of expansion obtained at any specific temperature range will vary, among other factors, in accordance with the type of plastic utilized and the thickness of the strap. a

The length of the strap 10 between the mating mem bers, 14 and 16, comprising the snap fastener, is variable and will be dependent upon the size and shape of the article, or articles, to be banded together by the strap. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the distance between the members 14 land 16 of the snap fastener is such that when the strap 10, in its normal or unexpanded condition, is wrapped around the wrenches 20 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, with the shanks of the wrenches positioned between the members 14 and 16, the members 14 and 16 will not be able to be snapped into engagement in the absence of a substantial force being exerted longitudinally of the strap 10 at the ends thereof, but will enable the members 14 and 16 to be readily engaged when heat is applied to the area of the strap 10 between the members 14 and 16.

As illustrated, the male member 16 of the snap fastener is secured a short distance inwardly from one free end thereof while the female member 14 is secured a substantial distance inwardly from the other free end thereof. This arrangement provides a tab or gripping portion 22 for the strap 10 which not only facilitates attachment of the strap to an article, or articles, but enables, if desired, the use of auxiliary fastening means such as, for example, staple 24 to be used. The staple 24 serves effectively to prevent inadvertent or deliberate disengagement of the members 14 and 16 of the snap fastener.

As indicated above, the banding strap utilized pursuant to the present invention is particularly suitable for packaging articles such as the stacked wrenches 20. In utilizing the strap for this purpose, it is merely necessary to apply heat along the length of the strap by means of a heated surface, an oven, or even an open flame, to cause the strap to expand, and then wrap it around the shank portions of the stacked wrenches. The members 14 and 16 of the snap fastener are engaged while the strap is in its heat-expanded condition. After the strap is cool and in a contracted condition, it snugly binds the wrenches together. The tab or gripping portion 22 of the strap may be secured to the body of the strap either before or after it has contracted. The strap may be positioned centrally or off-center of the shanks, as desired. Advertising or product identification material may be applied to the stack of wrenches, at the shanks thereof, either before or after the heated strap 10 is wrapped therearound. Such material can take the form of paperboard cards having dimensions generally corresponding to the height and width of the shanks of the stacked Wrenches, or can be in the form of bands of paper, the ends of which can be adhered to one another on the shanks of the wrenches.

What is claimed is:

1. A strap for snugly holding a plurality of articles together comprising a flat, one-piece band of a heatexpandable plastic material, and fastening means therefor, said fastening means including only one set of interlocking male and female members positioned in spaced apart relation on said band, the spacing between said members being such that said members are difiicultly engageable when said band, in a non-heat expanded condition encompasses a plurality of articles to be held thereby, and which is such that said members are readily engageable when said band, in a like situation, is in a temporary heat-expanded condition, said male member being positioned on one side of said band and said female member facing on the opposite side of said band thereby to enable said band, in its temporary heat-expanded condition, to be looped around a plurality of articles and said male and female members to be engaged in a manner whereby said female member will face the side of said band on which said male member is positioned and one end of the band will be inside the loop formed by the band and the other end thereof will be outside of said loop.

2. A strap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strap is fabricated of a thermoplastic plastic and the mating members comprise the male and female portions of a snap fastener.

3. A strap as claimed in claim 1 wherein one of the mating members is positioned closely adjacent one of the free ends of the band and the other of said mating members is positioned appreciably inwardly from the other free end of said band to provide a tab portion for facilitating engagement of said mating members, said tab portion being adapted to be secured to said band by auxiliary fastening means to prevent conscious or inadvertent disengagement of said members when said band is in position on a plurality of articles.

4. A method of handing articles together comprising providing a band of a heat-expandable plastic material having fastening means including interlocking male and female members positioned in spaced relation therein, said band being characterized in that the spacing between said male and female members is such that said members are diffcultly engageable when said band, in 1a non-heat expanded condition, encompasses articles to be banded together thereby, and such that said members are readily engageable when said band, in a like situation, is in a temporary heat-expanded condition, heating the band to cause it to expand, wrapping the band in its heat-expanded condition about articles to be banded together thereby and engaging the male and female members of the fastening means on the band and allowing the band to cool and contract while thusly wrapped to a non-heat expanded condition.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the band is heated to a temperature of about C. to about 200 C.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the band is wrapped around the shanks of open-ended wrenches in stacked relation to one another.

7. A package comprising a plurality of articles banded together by a band of a heat-expandable plastic material, said articles being in stacked relation to one another, said band encompassing the articles and being secured tightly thereon by fastening means carried by the band, the fastening means of said band comprising interlocking male and female members positioned on said band 1n spaced apart relation, the distance between said spaced apart members being such that said members are difficultly connectable when said band, in a non-heat ex-' panded condition, encompasses said articles, and such that said members are readily connectable when said band, in a like situation, is in a temporary heat-expanded condition, said male member being positioned on one side of said band and said female member facing on the opposite side of said band thereby to enable said band, in its temporary heat-expanded condition, to be looped around a plurality of articles and said male and female members to be engaged in a manner whereby said female member will face the side of said band on which said male member is positioned and one end of the band will be inside the loop formed by the band and the other end thereof will be outside of said loop.

8. The package of claim 7 wherein the articles are stacked open-ended wrenches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner. 

